When taking a cutting Why it is advisable not to take a shoot which has a flower on it?

Question

Also Why is it advisable to cut off some of the leaves before you plant a cutting.? What can you do to help the cutting to take?

I want to start my own garden :) any help would be appreciated

Answer 1

It is common for us gardening folk to talk in terms of "energy" when discussing the needs of plants, but misleading. The tips of plants contain a hormone called auxin that keeps lower buds from forming. This is so plants will grow tall to compete with surrounding plants for sunlight. When you remove the growing tip (meristematic tissue) from a plant, you effectively cut off the auxin supply, allowing the lower buds to form and branch out. It is about hormones, not "energy".
I believe the reason for removing leaves is to minimize moisture loss through transpiration.
One possible reason that flowers borne on tips should be removed is that these terminal (tip) buds are less equipped to produce branching and roots than other, non flowering tips.
Hormone dips or sprays can be very helpful, but once again, pay attention to the word hormone. Using too much can be worse than none at all.

Answer 2

I believe the answer to this question is because the cutting with the flower is more focused on the flower, than it is developing a new root system.

I have never actually heard that its better to take cuttings off of shoots without flowers. I work at a greenhouse, and my boss has never emphasized to take cuttings of the flowerless shoots.

As far as cutting off the leaves, when you trim something, it produces more growth in the plant. By cutting off some of the lower leaves, it would encourage more root growth.

Remember to keep your cuttings watered very well! The peat moss you plant them in should be damp, and almost soaking nearly all the time! Good luck with your garden!

Answer 3

Like several people have said, the energy in the plant cutting should be more focused to rooting. However, I have to confess that when I take cuttings, I don't usually cut the flowers off. I have found that having the cuttings in morning sun, afternoon shade and in 3 gallon pots, and keeping them watered is way more important than cutting the flowers off. I also use inexpensive soil, not usually the fancy stuff. And make friend w/ other gardeners! If you can, take the Master Gardener class in you area. I took it in 2001 and learned a great deal.

Answer 4

You don't want a stem with a flower on it because flowers use up more energy than regular growth. You want to cut off the leaves that will go under the soil so they don't rot and contaminate the soil. To help your cuttings get a good start dip them in rooting powder before you plant it has growth stimulants and will help roots develop faster. Some plants work well for cuttings others do not.

Answer 5

As for the shoot with the flower, it's because the flower takes away from the strength of the plant, and if you are trying to get something to root, it needs all the strength it can get at the roots. The same pretty much goes for taking leaves off up to a certain point. It gives the roots more umph where they need it. You will need to research whatever plants you are wanting to get cuttings off of, as different plants need different planting mediums to take root. Azaleas need sandy soil. My bubby bush needs low light and a tighter soil than sand, although both will root from cuttings. Good luck in your gardening endeavors! It's been the best time of my life, out in my yard, planting things folks give me, or seeds, and finding out what works where! :)

Answer 6

All good answers above. One tip that I've found useful when taking cuttings is to cut the remaining leaves in half across the grain. This helps the plant by reducing the foliage requirements but also indicates to you when new growth appears.

Answer 7

Flowering uses a lot of energy, and you want that energy going to rooting instead. Most of the lower leaves will yellow and die anyway, so cut them off to save energy. Rooting hormone can definitely help the cutting to take. You can buy a jar of it for $5 and there is enough for hundreds of cuttings.

Answer 8

Rooting cuttings requires a stem to be in a vegetative (growing) mode, not in a reproductive mode. A flowering stem is in the reproductive mode, so it will have to "switch gears", so to speak, to begin to produce roots. You only have so much time for roots to form before the cutting dies, so you don't want anything to delay the desired root production.